A Hernando County judge ruled Friday that a recorded confession made by Steven Wesolek can be used at his murder trial.
Wesolek is accused of killing 18-year-old Enrique "Ricky" Acevedo in Brooksville in June 2010. Wesolek confessed to the fatal stabbing in an interview with Hernando County sheriff's detective Randy Williamson.
The defense sought to suppress the confession, saying it was obtained through coercion. But Judge Daniel Merritt Sr. denied the motion.
The video shows Wesolek sitting in an interview room, at some points crying and at others saying he doesn't want to go to prison. The court was only shown a portion of the video at Friday's pretrial hearing. But the prosecution said that taken in its entirety, it's a confession.
They said Wesolek admitted he stabbed Acevedo while Acevedo gave him and two other friends a ride. Acevedo's friend Skyler Collins was also in the car. The prosecution said one of Wesolek's friends tried to choke her to death. Acevedo and Collins were then dumped from the car.
Acevedo died on the side of the road. Collins survived, and the prosecution is counting on her testimony, as well as the confession, for trial.
While the video of the confession was being shown, Wesolek looked on in an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles. Acevedo's parents were also in the courtroom, holding onto each other as they watched.
"What he said about my son is everything to me," Carmen Acevdo said. "Because I'd like to know from beginning to end how my son had to live his last minutes."
"My family's life is over," Aristides Acevedo said. "Every day that my son doesn't come home, my life is over."
Wesolek is due back in court April 19 for another pretrial hearing.